Developing legislation to prevent lead exposure in North Carolina:

Transcription

1 Developing legislation to prevent lead exposure in North Carolina: Housing, drinking water, and blood lead action levels Talia Sechley, Policy Fellow Jason Lee, MEM student Laura Appelt, Law student Megan Murray, MEM student Jordan Kozal, PhD candidate Environmental Health Scholars Fall Forum December 1, 2017

2 Introduction Improving state-level action against childhood lead poisoning in NC: 1. Housing lead abatement 2. Testing drinking water for lead in childcare centers 3. Improving blood-lead level monitoring and intervention

3 Housing Lead Abatement Jason Lee & Laura Appelt

4 Success of the Maryland Lead Prevention Program Drastic decline in children tested with BLLs > 10 ug/dl 1993: 14, : 377 Today, three times as many childhood lead poisoning cases in owned homes vs. rental homes An estimated 27,500 children were prevented from having 10+ ug/dl BLLs,

5 Economic Benefits of the Maryland LPP Source: Lanphear et al (2005) Elevated childhood blood lead levels are correlated with lower IQ and educational achievement Effects are correlated with lower lifetime achievement and earnings Benefits of lead control are avoided losses in lifetime earnings

6 Economic Benefits of the Maryland LPP Schematic of the basic model used to calculate economic benefits Sum up prevented losses from 5-10 ug/dl group and 10+ ug/dl group The prevented losses to lifetime earnings from elevated BLLs, Base case: $44.5 billion Sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation suggests this is on the low side

7 Economic Benefits of the Maryland LPP Monte Carlo analysis results of the avoided lost lifetime earnings 10,000 random simulations in Excel model (Oracle Crystal Ball) Average avoided losses (2017 USD): $63.8 billion Median avoided losses (2017 USD): $62.8 billion

8 Potential Risks in North Carolina Comparison of MD and NC rental housing stock by risk categories for lead paint presence

9 Lead in Housing: Policy Work with NC Child Policy recommendations aimed at decreasing lead exposure risks in housing Maryland as a model Rental housing Owner-occupied housing Engagement with stakeholders Community groups Landlords Homeowners associations

10 Lead in Housing: Abatement Funding Options Funding options for lead abatement activities on residential property Grants Loans Tax Credits Options for eligibility criteria Example: Maine Lead Hazard Control Program Rental housing: 0% deferred, forgivable, interest-free loans Owner-occupied housing: up to $16,000 in grant funding Owner or 50% of tenants must be below 80% of the median area income Covers paint abatement and window/door replacement Pre-1978 housing is eligible

11 Lead in Drinking Water Megan Murray

12 Lead in Drinking Water Don t want to repeat Flint, Michigan crisis NC Legislature already thinking about early detection and prevention

13 Our Work: Drinking Water Statistics 50% built before % built between 1979 and % built between 1987 and 2013 <1% built 2014 and later

14 Our Work: Drinking Water Enhance Map Collaborate

15 Blood Lead Level Monitoring Jordan Kozal

16 Blood Lead Action Levels (BLALs) CDC Revised BLALs for infants and children (<6yrs) Elevated 10-->5 ug/dl Lead poisoning 20-->10 ug/dl CDC Established BLALs for pregnant and lactating women Same or similar to children s BLALs

17 Healthy mothers, healthy babies...

18 NC was beginning to recognize this issue... Blood Lead Levels are elevated in women from minority communities of lower socioeconomic status Adapted with modification from King et al NC State Lab Pilot Study Women of childbearing age with elevated BLLs are similar to national estimate (1%) Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program High Risk Maternity and Maternal Health Clinics required to provide screening, testing, and education related to lead exposure

19 Issue Briefs and Infographics for lawmakers

20 Infographics for pregnant women

21 NCGA - Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017 Implementation of the Federal Blood Level Standard in North Carolina Main Effects Lowers BLALs for infants and children (<6yrs) Included pregnant women as a group the law is intended to protect NC is now up to date with CDC guidelines for children and is one of the first states to provide statutory protection for pregnant women!

22 Any Questions? Duke Environmental Law & Policy Clinic lead team Michelle Nowlin Talia Sechley Jason Lee Laura Appelt Megan Murray Jordan